Our Tradition

Hat Attack, a brand bound to casual & classic style, has offered a trend-setting collection for over 40 years. Founded in 1981 by young entrepreneur husband-and-wife team, BJ and Bill Gedney, Hat Attack combines a passion for creating modern yet abiding pieces with a commitment to sustainability. Starting in a studio apartment in Manhattan, BJ and Bill's dedication to quality craftsmanship at an affordable price quickly created high demand. Their journey saw multiple relocations due to growth, including a significant 30-year tenure in the Bronx before settling in Stamford, CT, in April 2021. Their daughter, Cooper McManus, who grew up with Hat Attack, now leads the creative team, continuing the family tradition.

Women- Led

Hat Attack is a women-led business under the leadership of Cooper McManus. Cooper continues her parents' legacy by designing, developing and sourcing two collections each year. She oversees a team of 12 on the daily in Hat Attack’s headquarters while being a pioneer of the trending accessory industry. Cooper spends her evenings and weekends with her husband, Joe, their 4 daughters, and dog, Bruno, at their Connecticut home.

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of Hat Attack. We use materials including raffia straw, linen, cotton, hyacinth and other eco-friendly fabrics sourced globally for our spring and fall collections. Our products are produced with materials from Thailand, Turkey, China, India, Madagascar, and USA-made wool felts and luxurious velours. Our Made in the USA hats including our Panamas, continentals, brimmed and bucket styles are hand-blocked, cut, sewn, and hand-trimmed. Using traditional methods involving carved wood blocks which are part of our Hat Attack heritage, these accessories are made start to finish by our in- house employees. Our processes prioritize ethical labor practices and continue year round. Each piece, whether imported or crafted in our Stamford factory, is handled with the utmost care to maintain the integrity of our style. 

Quality Craftsmanship

Dedicated to quality and on-trend styles, Hat Attack creates small batches of each style to ensure that no item goes to waste. This contributes to a lower carbon footprint, minimizing overproduction and excess inventory while keeping high standards and craftsmanship in our designs. We remain deeply rooted in our community and committed to sustainability and ethical practices. For over four decades, we have evolved as a brand and family, bringing the best in fashion to our customers worldwide.